Capping machine



Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES AT NT OFFICE John J Gaynor, Delphi,Ind, assignor of one-half to Arthur I. Risser, Chicago, Ill.

Application is. 24,1934, Serial No. -r2'z,292 26 was. (c1. 226--84)'This invention relates to capping machines, or more particularly tobottle crowners oi" the double head type.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a machine of thesimplest construction with a minimum number of actuating parts so as topromote compactness, and at the same time insuring reliability'andefiectiveness inoperation; and whereby the caps as applied to containersby both capping heads will be uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a capping machinethat can be closely arranged in cooperative relation with the containerconveying means of a rotary type container filling machine, so that thecontainers will be capped shortly after being transferred to the cappingheads of the capping machine alternately. The type of filling machinereferred to, includes a circular rotating container conveyor havingperiph- I erally arranged vertically reciprocable container supports inwhich the containers are placed to be raised into filling heads whichdepend from the circular liquid supply tankspaccd above the conveyor andconnected to rotate therewith. As a rule the tank is of greater diameterthan the conveyor, which relation of parts presents the prob lem inarranging the capping mechanism in close cooperative relation with theconveyor.

The capping machine includes two movably mounted capping heads, eachhead having means for receiving a cap and applying same to a containerupon pressure engagementtherewith when moved in a given direction. Asingle-driven'actuator element is included, mounted to move back andforth and beingoperably connected with the heads to alternately movesame in their .said given directions upon its said movement. Cap supplymeans is employed, mounted to move back and forth and being operablyconnected with said actuator whereby it is moved into cooperativerelation with and then slightly beyond there ceiving means of thecapping heads upon movement of the actuator. Means is. employed forresiliently operating the actuatorelement in causing the heads to exertuniform capping. pressure upon the containers. The cap supplying meansis caused. to move beyond the cap receivingmeans of. the heads so as. toinsure cooperative relation therewith upon restricted back. and forthmovement of the actuator which is the result of the restricted movementof the heads caused by irregularity in sizes of containers-cappedthereby.

Therefore, it is another object of the invention toprovide meansassociated with the supplying means for forcibly feeding. caps tothecap. receiving meansof the heads, because of theshort. in: terval oftime of cooperative relationvbetweensaid supply means and cap receivingmeans.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent by reference tothespecification and the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a front view of the capping machine Fig. .4 is a plan sectiontaken on thesection 7 line 4- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the'capping machine and portionsof thefilling machine, the view being taken on the section line 55 of Fig. l,with parts of the. filling machine shown in full lines. I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in large scale showing the capping heads, theView being taken on the section line 6-fi of Fig. 5.

Fig- 7 is aplan section taken on the section line l'l of Fig. 6. Y

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the-section line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the capping heads as looking in thedirection of the arrow 9' in Fig. 6, and showing certain parts inchanged position.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section ofa portion of the parts shown-in- Fig. 6,as taken on the section line It-lil of said figure, and showing certain1.934. The filling machine comprises acircula-r horizontally rotatingfilling tank 2', suitably mounted'on a central pedestal, not shown. Ar-

- rang.edeo,ually spaced about the axis of the tank chine has means forconveying containers orbottles 4 under the filling heads in cooperativerelation therewith. Said conveying means includes a plurality ofvertically disposed plungers 5 equally spaced about the axis of the tankso that each plunger is below and coaxial with a filling head. Theplungers 5 are reciprocably mounted in bearings 5 in the periphery ofthe circular lateral support extension I of the pedestal supporting thetank, whereby the plungers 5 rotate with the tank. Secured on the topend of each plunger 5 is a container support stirrup 8, having anoutwardly open yoke 9 for receiving and positioning under its respectivefilling head. a container or bottle 4 to be filled.

The tank 2 and support extension I of the filling machine rotatecontinuously in clockwise direction, as viewed in plan, and as thefilling machine plungers 5 cross the station, indicated by the dot anddash line B--B in Fig. 1, the bottles are placed in the stirrups byautomatic means, not shown, and at which station the plungers are inlowered position with the filling heads thereover spaced above thebottles thereon. The plungers 5 are then moved to raised position, bysuitable means, not shown, causing the bottles thereon to enter andraise the filling heads thereover into the filling tank, and in whichposition the plungers remain during considerable movement of the tank toeffect the filling of the bottles. The'filled bottles are then loweredby the plungers 5, actuated by suitable means, before reaching thereceiving station B-B, and are then transferred to the capping machine0, embodying the invention.

After the plungers 5 reach their lowered position, the filled bottlesthereon are transferredor deflected outward from the stirrups onto abottle support in the form of a table l whose supporting surface is inthe plane of the supporting surface of the stirrups in lowered position.The table is mounted upon a base or pedestal l I, extending upward fromwhich are spaced apart uprights or rods l2 and I3 respectively extendingthrough bosses M and I5 depending respectively from the left and righthand ends of the table. Any suitable means may be provided for holdingthe table in vertically adjusted positions on the uprights, such as theset bolts l6 passing through the bosses. The outer edges I! of thestirrups are formed arcuate, concentric with the filling machine tank,and the adjacent edge l8 of the table is formed arcuate, concentric withthe stirrup edges and in close relation therewith.

Upon being initially positioned on the table at the station indicated bythe dot and dash line E-E, Fig. 2, the bottles are alternatelytransferred by feeding means to two separate stations on the tableindicated by the crosses F and G, in cooperative relation with cappingmechanism later described.

For feeding or transferring the bottles from the filling machinestirrups onto the table and directing or guiding same to said separatestations F and G, a central bottle guide member or partition I9 ismounted on the table, arranged inward of and in line with the initialstation of a bottle on the table and the axis of the filling machinetank and support I. Cooperating with said central partition on eitherside for directing bottles from said initial station to said separatestations F and G, and slightly therebeyond, are respectively arcuatelyformed directing members in the form of rails 20 and 2| converging fromsaid separate stations to the initial station of the table. Each railhas a short base portion 22 for mounting on the table near its edgeopposite its edge l8, and from which base the rail extends inward overthe table with a bottom portion 23, in the form of a lateral reinforcingflange, spaced thereabove, to allow passage thereunder of mechanismlater described. The guide rail 20 continues into an end portion 24extending angularly beyond the initial or common station of the table toproject over the path of the stirrups, for deflecting the containers orbottles from the stirrups'and onto the table to be positioned at saidinitial station. The inner end 25 of the rail 21 is spaced from the railend portion 24 so as to allow the bottles being deflected to passtherebetween.

For transferring the bottles from the common station E-E on the table tosaid separate stations F and G, alternately, a carrier member or slidein the form of a bar 26 is mounted to move back and forth, orreciprocate transversely under the path of the bottles in transport fromthe common station to said separate stations. The slide bar 26 isreciprocably mounted in a guide groove 21 in the table to intersect itsedge 18 at the common station, the bar being retained in the grooveflush with the table surface by bolts 21a secured under the bar andreceived in slots 21b in the groove bottom. The bar thus forms a supportfor the bottles being transferred from the stirrups to the table.Mounted on the slide bar 26 is a container pusher member in the form ofa finger 28 pivotally mounted on a vertical pin 29 secured on the barnear the table edge i8 and to extend neutrally inward toward the tableand at right angles to the bar. The finger 28 has limited oscillatablemovement from either side of its neutral position, controlled by a pinprojection 30 depending from the finger and received in an elongatedslot Si in the bar, which slot has end walls engaged by the pin 30 inlimiting the movement of the finger.

The slide bar 26 has a throw a little greater than the distance betweenthe axes of the separate bottle positioning stations F and G, and thefinger 28 is so arranged on the bar whereby the bottles are initiallyplaced on the table intermediate its limits of movement with the bar andin the path thereof. The bar 25 is so operated by operable connectionwith the filling machine whereby, when the finger is moved toward theleft with the bar, (see Fig. 2) a bottle is placed in its path from astirrup, whereupon the finger is caused to engage the bottle initiallyat its pivotal connection and in contact with the trailing side of thebottle. By this engagement with the bottle the finger is caused to .beshifted about its pivot to extend away in angular relation with thebottle, whereby on continued movement of the bar the finger urges the.bottle along the guide rail 20 by deflection, in that the bottle ridesalong the finger as well as the rail until the finger. reaches its limitof movement with the bar 26, at which point the bottle is engaged by theend 33 of the finger in being positioned at the station F, in whichposition the parts are seen in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2.

Upon the return movement of the finger with the bar 26, and toward theright (see Fig. 2), a succeeding bottle has, been placed in its pathwhich is transferredto the station G, by the finger in a manner similarto that in transferring the preceding bottle to its station F, whereinthe succeeding bottle is urged along the rail 2| to the station G.

Before thepivotal end of the finger engages a 04 has a stem 85 extendingupward into a bearing 05 in a plug portion 81 secured at the top end ofthe capping head plunger, and a coiled spring 08 surrounds the stem andis interposed between the plug end and the ejecting plunger head, whichhead is thereby normallyheld in lowered position with its bottom endforming the top wall of the cap recess,by the annular shoulder 89 of theejecting head engaging the top end portion of the constricting ring. Theplug 81 on the top end of each capping head plunger is formed with acentral vertical slot 90 providing spaced fork portions 9I through whichis mounted a pivot pin 92 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 93 forproviding an operable connection with means for operating the cappinghead, later described.

The magazine 11 is in the form of a chute with the crowns or caps guidedtherein in edge- Wisesingle order, and the chute being arcuately formedwith a top vertical end portion 94 pivotally mounted for horizontalmovement on a pivot pin 95 depending from a cap sorting device 96, saidtop end of the chute being arranged to be in constant register with thelower discharge end 91 of said device. The sorting device is mounted ona bracket 90 mounted on the horizontal support 49, which bracket extendsupward on both sides of the capping heads and thereover.- The chute ormagazine extends arcuately downward and inward toward the capping headsand terminates in its dischargeend portion I8 which is mounted, so as tobe guided in the plane of the capping head recesses when the heads arein raised position, to project into an arcuate lateral groove 99concentric with the pivotal axis of the magazine, and formed in thelower part of the support 49. In the bottom of the groove 99 are crownpassage-ways I through which the crowns pass from the magazine dischargeend and into the recesses of the capping heads. The bottom portion IOIof the groove 99 serves to hold the crowns in the magazine discharge endupon movement of said end between the capping heads.

As best seen in Figs. '7 to 11 inclusive, the magazine is somewhat flatand rectangular in cross--. section to snugly position the crowns insingle order therein. The wide sides of the magazine are formed of thinstrips I02 and I03 which are connected at their edges by bars I04forming the narrow sides of the magazine. The bottom discharge endportion of the magazine comprises a horizontally disposed channelsection I in line with the magazine main portion and having a fiatbottom I06 with raised sides I01 upon whose tops the bars I04 areconnected suitably to form a gradual upwardly curved continuation of thedischarge end. The strip I02 continues over the channel section to itsouter end to form a closed guideway for the crowns therewith. The othermagazine side strip portion I03 continues arcuately downward into an endportion engaging the bottom of the channel section in substantiallytangential relation intermediate its ends. Thus the channel sectionforms the discharge end continuation of the magazine chute portionproper.

For a purpose later disclosed, the magazine has a normal range ofoscillation which causes its discharge end to be brought into registerwith the cap recesses of the capping heads and then continue slightlytherebeyond. To insure the feeding of a crown into the recess of acapping head as, the magazine discharge end is passing thereby, meansare provided to resiliently urge the end cap in said discharge end intothe recess. Said means includes a cap feeder head I08 in the form of across-head mounted for reciprocation under the magazine discharge end orchannel section I05. To this end the cross-head comprises a rectangularblock having a central guide groove I09 within which the channel sectionis received, and the sides I I0 of the cross-head have inwardlyprojecting shoulders III slidably received in guideways H2 in the sidesI01 of the channel section. Mounted under the cross-head is a bracketII3 on which is movably or pivotally mounted a cap pusher element H4 inthe form of a spring pressed finger, which finger extends upward throughelongated slots H5 and H6 in the cross-head and channel sectionrespectively, to project into the path of the crowns in the cap guidewayof the magazine discharge end portion to feed a cap therefrom uponoutward movement of the cross-head. Upon movement of the magazine toneutral position between the capping heads, the cross-head is positivelyretracted, whereupon the cap pusher finger rides under the crowns toengage the third one from the discharge end of the magazine in urgingthe end crown into the recess of a head upon continued movement of thedischarge end theretoward. The cross-head is moved forward in feeding acrown by resilient. means so that the crowns will snap into the recessesof the capping heads as the magazine discharge end is passing thereby.The resilient means includes two light coiled tension springs II'Idisposed on either side of the channel section I05 with their outerends, anchored thereto and their inner ends secured to the sides of thecross-head. a

For positively retracting the cross-head upon movement of the magazineto neutral position, the following means is provided. Mounted under thesupport member 49 and disposed between the bottom ends of the cappinghead plungers, is an adjustable cap feeder head operator support in theform of a bar I I8 extending toward the pivotal axis of the magazine andadjustably received within a guideway I I9 under the support 49. On theinner end of the bar I I8 is movably mounted acap feeder head operatorI20 in the formof a lever having pivotal connection as at I 2| with saidbar atone end thereof. The lever I20 has an elongated longitudinal slotI22 within which is slidably received a roller I23 pivotally mountedcentrally under the magazine channel section I05 near its outer end,whereupon the lever is oscillated with the magazine. At the free end ofthe operator lever I20 is a roller I24 for engagement with the dependingstrike plate portion I25 of the. cross-head I08 for operating the head.Thus as the magazine is moved to neutral position, the operator lever ispositioned in line with same, whereupon the cross-head is moved by thelever to its extreme retracted position. The amount of movement of thecross-head is about one and one-half times that of the .di-

ameter of a crown so as to insure engagement of the cap pusher fingerwith a cap in the magazine.

For regulating the throw of the cap feeder cross-head I08 inaccommodating various sizes of crowns, the bar I I8 is adjusted towardor away from the magazine which respectively increases and decreases thethrow of the head in respectively handling large and small crowns. Forholding the barI I8 in adjusted positions, it has a central longitudinalslot I26 through which a bolt I21 extends and secured in the support 49.

l The cap pusher finger H4 is pivotally mounted on the bracket H3; as atl28,within| a ver-. tical slot I29 in the inner end ofthe bracket forlimited movement, and which bracket has a horizontal bore 136 withinwhich is disposed a compression spring -I3I interposed between a plug I32 threaded in the outer-end of the bracket bore and a sliding plug. I33engaging a flat portion I34 of the finger for resiliently holding thefinger projected into the path of the crowns in the magazine. ThebiacketI I3 is mounted on the cross-head I08 for longitudinal adjustment forregulating the position of the pusher finger with respect to varioussizes of crowns and also in controlling the amount of tension of thesprings II1 required to eject the crowns from the magazine. For instancethe farther back the bracket with its finger is adjusted on the cross.head, less tension or force will be exerted by the springs in moving thecross-head to eject the caps or crowns.- To this endthebracket II3 has aguide ridge portion Hi5 received in a guideway 136 in the bottom of thecross-headand being held in adjusted positionsby ineansof the screws Thecapping heads and magazine are so operated that when a head is in raisedposition, the magazine discharge end is moved into register with itscaprecess and then slightly therebeyond, and whereupon the other cappinghead :is moved to lowered position in; applying a crown described, bymeans of' cam formations in the form of downwardly converging cam slotsI42 and I43 formed in the top portion of the bar, and which are adaptedto respectively alternately receive' rollers M4 and 14.5 at the lowerends of depending rocker arms I46 and I41 respectively, for operatingthe capping heads through operation of the arms, and upon a completecycle of reciprocation of the bar. The rocker arms are respectivelymounted on the front ends of horizontal shafts I48 and I49 which arerespectively mounted in bearings 1.59 and i5! in u ward extensions ofthe support 49 between which. the capping heads .are disposed. On therear .end of the shaft I48 is an arm I52 whose, free end is forked forpivotal connection with the roller 93 at the top end of the .cappinghead 31 for operating the head upon oscillation of the arm 145.Extending from the hub of the rocker arm I41 is an arm extension I53whose free end is forked for pivotal connection with theroll'er 93 ontop of the capping head 36 for operating the head upon oscillation ofthe arm I41. The cam slots I42 and I43 are so spaced that whenthe'actuator bar is in neutral position, both rocker arms are dependingin converging relation with their rollers resting on cam 'dwell portionsI54 comprising the top surface of the bar extending away from the oamslots, whereby the heads are. held in raised position. The portion I55.of thezbar .between the cam slots extends upward into @the path of therockerarm rollers toenableengage- .ment of the rollers in theirrespective cam slots upon reciprocation of the actuator :bar.

Under the actuator bar I38 and directly below the portion I55 thereof,is a dependin portion I55, in the bottom of is a notchx l5 1 forpivotalslidingconnection with a roller I59 on the .top portion of thedischargeend of the hiagazine, for operating the magazine in timedrelation with the capping he d y The actuator bar I38 is sofoperatedwhereby,

as a bottle is being positioned at one of the capping stations F or G,the capping head thereover is being lowered to apply a crown to thebottle.

To this end the actuator bar-isreciprocated by. th double c ank armormember 50, on whose central crankpin 1591s pivotally connected one endof a resilient link, 169 whose other end in pivotal connection with theouter end of the actuat r bar, a at 1.6!. I

.The'resilientlink is employed to maintain uniformity of pressure of thap i g h ad up the bottles being capped, as well as preventingdispositioned u der the h ads a they r lowered- It, is preferable toemploy the resilient link as disclosed in myapp ation Ser. No. 684,236-

Referrine to Fig. 3, the resilient link Bilinbreakage of the bottles inthe event same become 1 eludes respectively inner and outer tubulartele- I scopin s cti ns L62 and 63, hav n lim d slidable movement withresp c to eac oth r by means of two opposed p ns 64 mou e inthe outertube section to extend therein, and which pins pass through elongatedslots 1.65 in oppo ed wall portions of the inner tube section. Threadedinto the ou end of the inner tub sectio is a threaded collar I65 throughwhich is slidable a rod 151 extendin int he ub t normal-yene at itsl'leeend with a plug I68 secured in the inner end of said tube. .Theouter end of f the rod I 51 is in pivQtal'connection-with the bar I38 bymeans of a b aring mem er I59 mo n ed on the end of the rod andfulcrumed on a pin 11.0 ex ending from the outer en of hebar to "eaeinthe pins 164 which p oject into the inner tube. At the inner ndloi th odar oppos d laterally xtended pinslllsi whi h ar also adan e I ed to beengaged by the inner end .of the spring normally. 'I'husthe tubesections of the link are In the outer normally resiliently held inextended relation,

in whi h relation they are urged by the s rin under stress, and likewisethe tub and the rod are held in retracted relation. H

Theresilient link is so a r n ed thatwhen the operating lcentralcrankpin I59 is in dead center relation with the link and axis .of the doublecrank arm, with the arm ex nd ng t ward the link in causin the p rationof th annin head .31, as seen in Fig. 1 the pressureflexerted on thehead in constrictin a crown on a b tt e is taken up in the spring I13 by,the.compression thereof, which is .eiliected by the contraction .of thetube sections, in which positionthe parts of the link are seen in ,Fig.3. Likewise, {when the crank ,pin .159 is in clead .center relationwiththe .link and axis of the double crank, wi hthe ra ex e n away from theli k .c usin t .QP-

..eration of the cappingihead 6., the pressure .ex-

elated .on the ahead in causing the constriction .of

a crown on a bottle is also taken 'up in the spring l'l3by beingcompressed, which is effected by the extension of the inner tube sectionand rod assembly.

'Ihe resilient link may be said to be resiliently locked in a neutrallength, from which it is capable of extension or contraction by the samestressing action of a single spring. This construction promotesuniformity of caps as applied to the bottles by both heads.

During the operation of the capping heads in capping bottles, the throwof the actuatorbar I38 is slightly decreased from that when bottles arenot passing through the machine for capping, because of the limitedreciprocating action of the heads which is determined by the height ofthe bottles in controlling the amount of capping pressure'exerted uponthe bottle by the head, as effected by the resilient link, in applying acrown on the bottle. To insure registration of the magazine dischargeend with the recesses of the heads, in the event over-sized bottles arepassed through the'machine, which would tend to reduce the oscillatorymovement of the magazine because of its positive driven connection withthe actuator bar I38, the magazine is arranged so that its discharge endwill oscillate slightly'beyond the recesses of the capping heads so thatthe caps will be discharged from the magazine and into the recessesas'the discharge end is passing thereby, diuing'the capping of bottles.

Although other means may be employed for feeding crowns to the magazine11, the sorting device shown includes a crown hopper H in which iscontained crown sorting and feeding mechanism operated by a horizontalshaft H6 mounted to extend through the hopper. The shaft H6 is driven bythe shaft 58, on which is a sprocket gear I11 for driving an endlesssprocket chain I18, which drives a sprocketgear I19 secured on one endof a jack shaft !80 centrally mounted in a bearing I81 on the support49. On the other end of the jack shaft 180 is a sprocket gear I82indriving connection with a sprocket gear I83 on the shaft I16 throughthe intermediation of an endless sprocket chain !84.

Certain organizations of the structure herein disclosed forms generallycertain subject matter of my Patent No. 1,958,476, in which saidorganizations are broadly claimed. The structure is also moresimilarly'disclosed in my priorcopending application Ser. No. 722,882,for 'Con tainer feeding mechanism, filed April 28; 1934, in which thecontainer feeding mechanism is broadly and specifically claimed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a container capping machine, two devices, each device mountedmovably and having means for applying a cap to a container upon pressureengagement therewith when moved in a given direction, cap feeding means,said feeding means and devices arranged to have relative movement backand forth whereby cooperative relation is established alternatelybetween the means and devices, driven operator means operably connectedto the devices to move same in their said given directions inalternation, and being arranged to effect the relative movement of thedevices and said means, and means for resiliently driving said operatormeans.

2. In a container capping machine, two devices, each device mountedmovably and having means for applying a cap to a container when moved ina given direction, cap supplying meansmounted movable back and forthadapted to be brought accent alternately into cooperative relation withthe devices, an operator element mounted movable back and forth inpositive operable connection with the supply means for operating sameand in operable connection with the devices for alternately moving samein their said given directions.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the cap applying meansof the devices is arranged for pressure engagement with containers inapplying caps, and means for resiliently operating the operator element.7 e

4. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the devices eachcomprises a capping head having means for receiving a cap from thesupply ing means when in cooperative relation therewith so as toposition the cap in cooperative relation with the applying means of thehead.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the devices eachcomprises a capping head having means for receiving acap from thesupplying means when in cooperative relation therewith so as to positionthe cap in cooperative relation with the applying means of the head,wherein the cap applying means of the heads is arranged for pressureengagement with containers in applying caps, and means for resilientlyoperating the operator element.

6. In a container capping machine, two cap;- ping heads, each headmounted vertically reciprocable, being laterally spaced from the otherhead and having means for receiving a cap and adapted to apply same uponbeing reciprocated, a cap supplying member mounted for back and forthhorizontal movement and adapted to be alternately brought intocooperative relation with the cap receiving means of the heads, anoperating member disposed to one side of the heads and mounted for backand forth horizontal movement and being operably connected with theheads to reciprocate same alternately and being positively operablyconnected with the cap supplying member for moving same'into cooperativerelation with the cap receiving means of one head upon the reciprocationof the other head.

'7. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein each head includesmeans operable upon pressure engagement with a container when the headis reciprocated for applying the cap, and means for resiliently drivingsaid operating member.

8., The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the operating memberhas two cam formations for cooperating in providing separate operableconnections with the heads for alternately operating the heads.

9. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the operating member hastwo 'cam formations for cooperating in providing separate operableconnections with the heads for alternately operating the heads, whereineach head includes means operable upon pressure engagement with acontainer when the head is reciprocated for applying the cap, and meansfor resiliently driving said operating member.

10. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the operating memberhas two cam dwell formations each cooperating to hold a head stationaryupon the reciprocation of the other head.

11. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the operating memberhas two cam formations for cooperating in providing separate operableconnections with the heads for alternately operating same, and whereinthe operating member has two cam dwell formations each arranged inassociation with one of the aforesaid cam formations for. cooperating toholda head stationary upon the reciprocationof the other head.

12. The structure as defined in claim 6,,wherein the cap supplyingmember is pivotally -n1oun-ted so as to oscillate, wherein theoperating; member comprises a bar, and wherein-the supplying mem=- I herand bar have portions formed to, provide a slidable pivotal connectiontherebetween.

13. In a container: capping;machine,.,having two capping heads and a capsupply magazine,

. cap from the magazine in feeding same to the head.

14. The structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the means includes acap feeder means reciprocably mounted on the magazine being operablyarranged to complete a cycle of reciprocation upon relative movement ofthe magazine from one limit to the other and adapted to have cooperativeengagement with an end cap in the magazine for feeding same when movedin one direction.

15. The structure as defined'in claim 13, wherein the means includes afeeder head reciprocably mounted on the magazine and operably arrangedto complete a cycle of reciprocation upon relative movement of themagazine from one capping head to the other, and spring pressed cappusher means mounted on the feeder head adaptedtohave cooperativeengagement with an end cap in the magazine for ejecting same uponforward movementof the feeder head.

16. The structure as defined in claim 13,'wherein the means includes acap feeder head mounted movably back and forth on the magazine andadapted to have cooperative engagement with an end cap in the magazinefor feeding same upon its forward movement, and means for causing thefeeder head to complete a cycle of its back and forth movementupon saidrelativemovement of magazine from one limit to the other.

17. In a container capping machine, two capping heads, a pivotallymounted gravity urged cap supply magazine having a horizontal dischargeend portion adapted to oscillate alternately into cooperative relationwith the heads to feed caps thereto, cap feeder means mounted forlongitudinal back and forth movement on said discharge end portion andoperably arranged with the magazine whereby upon its movement from onehead to the other the means completes its said movement for forciblyfeeding a cap from said discharge end.

18. The structure as defined in claim 17, wherein the cap feeder meansincludes a cap feeder head reciprocably mounted on said discharge endand a spring pressed cap pusher finger mounted on the feeder headadapted to project into the path of the caps in the discharge end so asto feed same upon forward movement of the feeder head. i

19. The structure as defined in claim 1'7, wherein the cap feeder meansincludes a cap feeder head reciprocably mounted on said discharge end, aspring pressed cap pusher finger mounted on the feeder head adapted toproject into the path of the caps in the discharge end so as to feedsame upon forward movement of the feeder head, and

means for resiliently moving the feedenhead for,-

wardr a i l 20 The structureas-defined theicapfeeder meansincludes acapfeeder head reciprocably mounted on the discharge ends-p ring pressedmeans mounted onsthe'feeder headadapted to engagera; capin saiddischarge ,endtsoaseto feed same upon'forward movementoftheteederhe,ad,'rneans for resilientlymoving the feeder head forward, and apivotally: mounted lever in driven opera l nnecti n .w lih ma az n at-drill driving. connection with the feeder head for positivelyretracting the head upon movement of the discharge end to neutralposition between the capping heads.

21. In a container capping machine, two movably mounted capping headseach having means for receiving a cap and applying same to a containerupon pressure engagement therewith when moved in a given direction, capsupplying means, said capping heads and supplying means arranged tohaverelative movement back and forth whereby cooperative relation isestablished alternately between said supplying means and the capreceiving means of the heads intermediate the limits of said relativemovement of said means and. heads, a unitary driven actuator elementmounted to move back and forth being operably connected with the headsto alternately move same in their said given directions and operablyarranged to' effect the relative movement between the heads and saidsupply means, means for resiliently driving said ternately move same intheir said given directions upon its said movement, cap supplying meansmounted to move back and forth and in driven connection with saidactuator element whereby it is moved alternately into cooperativerelation with and then slightly beyond the receiving means of the headsupon said movement of the actuator,

'means for resiliently'driving said actuator, and

actuated means for forcibly transferring caps from the supplying meansto the cap receiving means of the heads when same are in cooperativerelation 1 23. In amachine of the class described, two capping headseach having a cap receiving recess, a cap supply magazine having adischarge end, said heads and magazine arranged to have relativereciprocatory movement back and forth between limits wherebysubstantially at each limit cooperative registration is establishedbetween the discharge end and a recess, and means operable mediate thelimits of its relative movement for allowing intermittent discharge ofthe caps, and

8 1 cap feeding means mounted for limited back and forth movement, beingoperatively connected with the member and magazine whereby it completesits cycle of movement during relative movement of the member andmagazine from one limit to the other and arranged to have cooperativeengagement with a cap in the magazine during its forward movement.

25. The structure as defined in claim 24 wherein the feeding meanscomprises a feeder head reciprooably mounted on the magazine, and. alever in cooperative connection with the member and magazine whereby itoscillates in timed relation with the relative movement thereof foroperating the feeder head.

26. The structure as defined in claim 24, wherein the feeding meanscomprises a feeder head reciprocably mounted on the magazine, and meansfor causing the feeder head to resiliently move forward in urging a capfrom the magazine.

JOHN J. GAYNOR.

